Tag Archives: Family History

Greetings from Lugano! Between my last postcard to you and this one, we’ve managed to emerge from the Dark Ages here and get internet in the flat. We’re here for another week, and are being spoilt with perfect skies, crystal blue waters on the lake, and sunshine.

Before I let photos speak for themselves, I’d like to share an interesting story that happened today: My husband and I took a ferry to a small town on the lake, called Morcote, and we happened to sit next to an older couple the same ages as my in-laws. I find people fascinating, and so we started talking; before long, I learned the origins of their family names, about accidents when the husband was a small boy, their children and grandchildren, their careers, and a lot more. When they told me their first names, I mentioned that my husband had an older cousin with the same name, whose father was killed in a train accident in 1948 in Einsiedeln. It turned out that the woman’s cousin and uncle were on that same train, one car back from my husband’s uncle; they were severely injured, but both survived. What are the odds of someone else from Zurich being on the same boat on Lake Lugano today, sitting next to us, whose family had also been affected by the same accident 70 years ago? It just goes to prove how small the world is, and that we just might have something (or a lot) in common with the person sitting next to us on a ship, or in a train, or on a subway, or in a concert, or in a classroom – we just have to break out of our own little bubbles and reach out. And it also reminded me that sometimes the smallest actions can change lives forever: Joseph Hüsler had wanted to bring his children (2 and 4 at the time) candy after visiting his aunts in Einsiedeln; he forgot, got off the first train he’d been on, and spent more time with the aunts after he’d purchased the candy, until the next train departed. That was the train that crashed. Curious, I found a couple archive photos from the time of the accident; here they are (both images, credit – http://www.waedenswil.ch):

We had a wonderful visit with the couple, and then waved goodbye as we went our separate ways. So, as promised, here are a few images of Lugano, Morcote, and surrounding towns:

The following post was originally 3 separate posts on my History Undusted blog; it is a lengthier post than I usually offer, but well worth the read for those interested in history, World War Two, and life in the US Navy. Enjoy!

My grandfather, Raymond Dale Kuhns, was a clerk aboard the cruiser USS Metevier for 6-9 months during World War 2, based out of San Diego, California. His typewriter was bolted to the desk, the desk to the floor, but his chair was on rollers; so he’d type a few letters before rolling away, and wait to roll back; ever after he typed with the hunt and peck method, as it apparently didn’t do much good to learn touch typing.

The document below is the onboard journal that he kept during that time, beginning in November 1944, through June 1945. There are a few notes for clarity interspersed, written by myself, or by my mother, Connie, of stories he told her; she was three at the time. While the journal entries are very matter-of-fact, without many personal “memoir” elements, it is still a fascinating historical insight into life aboard a ship during the Second World War. My grandfather was the biggest practical joker I will ever care or dare to come into contact with; any practical jokes that happened aboard, such as the monkey and chicken, were most likely instigated by him…

13 Nov. 1944 (mail sent) Crossed equator at 0756. Now a “Shellback”. (Connie’s note- Dad told stories about the hazing men endured first time to cross the equator. – had to run a gauntlet of fire hoses in action, a “swat-line” between the “old timers” hitting them with paddles, all kinds of practical jokes, etc.). Entered Deolian Cave, Baltna Island, Galapagos. Saw 2 seals, fishing. Left 14th.

25 Nov. 1944. (mail sent) Entered Bora Bora, Society Island. Beautiful. Purchased 2 grass skirts, bracelet, 2 sets beads. Were they made in U.S.??? Left 26th (Connie – “We probably still have the grass skirts – and I know there is a picture of AJ and I with them. Also, the “beads” were small conch shells – probably also a pic somewhere, I’ll try to find it”).

Summary: Month was uneventful. Seasick first night out. Never set my foot on land. Received no mail.

3 Dec. 1944. No such date for us. Crossed the International Date Line.

6 Dec. 1944. Missed wife on her birthday. Great gal. Made landfall on Solomon. Skirted NW tip of Guadalcanal. First liberty. 4 Cokes!! Left 8 Dec.

26 Jan. 1945. Left Leyte for invasion of Luzon, just north of Subic Bay.

29 Jan. 1945. 14 hours minus 1 or 7:30 naval bombardment of beaches to begin. However, 10 minutes before, Philippine guerillas came out and informed us territory taken. So this invasion force of 60,000 landed without a shot being fired. We are sitting 60 miles from Manila. It is now mid-afternoon, and Japs have not contested invasion at all. Things look good for us here. Left 2000 for Leyte without once contacting enemy.

30 Jan 1945. Ship in convoy was struck by torpedo. No casualties. Ship towed in and repaired.

This month really went fast!

1 Feb. 1945. Arrived back in Leyte. No action or alerts on return trip from Luzon. Too late to go after mail!!! SHUCKS!

11 Feb. 1945. Arrived Woendi. This is a group of coral islands near New Guinea. Beautiful. Like a vacation here.

12 Feb. 1945. Liberty. Played basketball, then went swimming.

13 Feb. 1945. Received special liberty to play on baseball (softball) team. Defeated tug 4 – 3 in 10 innings. Won 4 cases beer and got 5 cases from ship. The boys all came back stewed. I had to drink one for thirst. No fresh water available.

14 Feb, 1945, Left this “rest camp” with memories of best time since leaving dear wife and kiddies. Going back to front in all probability. Feeling ready now. Hope to get mail SOON!!

Summary: This month very uneventful. Enjoyed liberty at Woendi more than anything else. Got fairly well caught up on mail.

Here are a few extra bits of trivia from my mother:

“4 Nov. ’44 – the “Whew” was probably a prayer of thankfulness that the whole load had not exploded when some got dropped!

I only heard your grandpa talk once about the horrors he must have seen. – ships blown out of the water, etc. He and my uncle Victor talked one Christmas when I was a teen about picking surviving mates off an adjacent ship in the fleet that had been torpedoed – and picking survivors out of the ocean.

13 Feb ’45. Your grandpa didn’t drink beer – of course, his father (Reverend H.A. Kuhns) wouldn’t have liked it – although before H.A. was saved, he had “owned a dance hall” – your grandpa told me after we were grown women. So I’m sure beer at least was part of my grandpa’s experience B.C.

25 Feb. ’45 – Of course “liberty” for most meant finding liquor and women, which were not for your grandpa. I am so thankful for the Christian heritage we have!!!!!”

Note of interest: Aboard they slept in hammocks; once the guy above him jumped up at the call for general quarters, and knocked himself out on the overhead beam; needless to say he didn’t make it to his station on time…

March – April 1945

Raymond Kuhns, Age 45, taken in 1965

[NOTE: Back in the mid-1980s I was in the Philippines for two months, living near the Subic Bay Naval Base just across a bridge from Olongapo. I saw up close and personal the temptations men in the military face, and for a Christian man such as my grandfather, he had to try and find alternatives to “going out with the boys” on liberty, though often the Red Light District was (and is) where the restaurants were, so it was a Catch 22. When I was living there I was working with a Christian missions organisation among the prostitutes, drug dealers and pimps, as well as those who worked in street shop/booths (I’m still in touch with one or two!), and our home was a place for the Christian military men to come and hang out when they were off-duty; nearly every day I’d come down to the living room to find strangers there, reading or talking. I don’t know if he had such a place back then, but fisherman’s missions and military missions are far more common now, because the temptations (the sex industry, drugs, alcohol, etc.) are more rampant than ever. When I returned to the States he enjoyed talking to me about Subic and the PI as he knew it, and I think it was special for him to talk to his granddaughter who had seen some of the places and things he’d seen so many years before.]

1 March 1945. This month started off with a bang. Dropped D.C. (depth charges)- 5 of them in the middle of the night. I was on helm. Boys sleeping really thought we got it. Entered Mindoro.

12 March 1945. (mail sent/mail received). Got mail via ship that had been in Port. Proceeded into Bay and got more mail.

14 March 1945. Availability cancelled. A ship on A/S sweep run aground we had to relieve it. Just our luck.

15-18 March 1945. A/S sweep and on 18 entered Mangarin for 2 days availablity.

19 March 1945. Liberty in Mindoro. Quite a place. Rode in a jeep with army captain to San Jose. Saw sugar mill that was hit by P-47 in morning. Saw unit of paratroopers who made landings on Corrigedor. Helped sort mail at P.O. FINALLY got Christmas presents. Included billfold, leather toilet kit, shower shoes, pictures, and wedding band. Every gift perfect. One box of candy had to be thrown away. Really enjoyed it even though it was late.

20-23 March 1945. A/S sweep off Mindoro.

24-25 March 1945. (mail sent/mail received) A/S sweep to Luzon and returned. Fueled and got underway for Leyte. These two days were roughest I have seen. Had to strap myself in sack. Did not get sick. 36 bags Christmas mail.

26-28 March 1945. Escorting Army tug with barge at 3-1/2 knots. No wonder it took us 4 days to get here. Entered San Pedro Bay.

29-31 March 1945. (sent mail/received mail). Available for maintenance. We got 11 bags of mail, but most of it was rest of Christmas packages.

Summary: Most of this month was spent on ping line of A/S duty. The first was most amusing. Christmas packages really helped our moral. Nothing exciting or dangerous.

7 April 1945. Arrived Manila. Passed very close to Corregidor and got a good look at it. Liberty in Manila. What a place. Harbor full of sunken Jap ships. Every building in business district damaged. Most of them blown to bits. Saw Jap mass-burial place. Cars that looked like strainers. Eats very high – 75 cents for one scoop ice cream. Rode in cart affair (horse-drawn) through town cost us $2.50. Men came back to ship drunk and not virgins. People dress very American. Had to wear whites on this liberty. Really got my first glimpse of war devastation. Got stamps and money souvenirs.

8-9 April 1945. Anchored in Manila harbor. No mail service here at all.

10 April 1945. Left Manila for Leyte

11 April 1945. All hell broke loose at 1130. We rammed native sailboat that was carrying 42 persons. Called to G.Q. As I was asleep, I really bounced out of my sack when alarm sounded. Arrived at G.Q. station and heard hysterical screams of survivors and saw them as we illuminated them. Picked up 37 survivors. Continued search. Picked up 2 small babies floating face down. Dead when rescued, but boys worked feverishly for 3 hours with artificial respiration, but no luck.

12 April 1945. (sent mail/received mail) 0330 another G.Q. with fire amidships. I couldn’t imagine us having another G.Q. and just stood and listened to alarm, but when fire was announced, I tore up to station. I was not in my sack at the time, as survivors had our compartment. Two small girls had my bunk. Fire not serious and confined to drying room. Had 4-8 watch, so was up till 10:30 next night without sleep. One small baby died from effects of night before. Transferred the survivors around noon, as we arrived back in Leyte. There were 36 alive (one expected to die), 3 dead, and 3 we could not find in the wreckage. The miracle to me was the number that lived through the ordeal. Saw anguish in mothers’ faces as they looked at dead children. Saw and sympathized with those who missed their children. The native craft was supposed to have been 50 feet in length and cost 10,000 pesos. A very large native boat. It was taking natives away from Japs on Mindanao. We were first Americans they had seen since 1941. Doubt very much if they were happy to see us. Made Y2C (Yeoman 2nd class). Received authorization from ComSerfor. Ship was very nice and did not make me wait for first of month. That means treats for the boys.

13 April 1945. (mail received) Learned of President’s death (FDR). Also got news of being 50 miles from Berlin. Liberty at Pambujuan, Samar. Pulled joke on chief regarding censorship regulations – very effective.

14 April 1945. LOST MY WEDDING BAND! Don’t know how or where. Did not eat morning chow, I felt so bad. Hope my darling wife isn’t too mad at me for it.

15 April 1945. (Mail sent/mail received) Church on USS Medusa. Memorial service for Roosevelt. Very good. Got our first fresh provisions in approx 3 months. Received letters from Wanda. Put 3 coats of paint on bottom of ship in 48 hours. Not bad while in dry dock. Got us up at 5:30 for special sea details, then didn’t get away before 1100. Purchased treats on ratings*. (Note: *Rations?)

May – June 1945

25 April 1945 (sent mail/received mail) Received Easter pictures. Just love the ones of my wife.

26 April 1945 Saw 10 carriers of British Fleet which was a big encouragement. Firing practice.

27 April 1945 (mail sent/mail received) Underway to Okinawa. More firng practice. New war cruising watch. Now at G-2.

30 April 1945. G.Q. at 0200. 3 planes. Did not close. Started dusk and dawn alerts.

Summary: What a Month!! Interesting at Manila. Sailboat incident. Lost wedding band. Made Rate (grade of official standing of enlisted men). Dry Dock (Whooie). Headed for Okinawa. 196 days since I have seen my family. Sure miss them.

1 May 1945 – Rolled D.C. (damage control?) at good contact. At 1305, called to G-2. Exploded a mine. We were headed right for it when lookout sighted it. Explosion sent water 150 feet in the air.

2 May 1945. Arrived Okinawa. No suicide raids. Shelling beaches.

3 May 1945. 1000 left Okinawa in company with BB Tennesee. Heard of suicide raids 6 hours after we left. One DD who was stationed 3000 yards from us was hit with 5 suicides.

4 May 1945. Big suicide raids on Okinawa and Jap reinforcements landed. Believe God definitely answered prayers of protection on this mission. It was too rainy all the time we were in Okinawa for raids. Numerous ones feel we were fortunate and lucky, but as far as I am concerned, God gets the credit.

6 May 1945. (mail sent/mail received) Arrived back in Leyte after sinking floating nets earlier in the morning. Received 11 letters – more than I deserved for the ones I wrote this trip.

7 May 1945. Liberty. tramped through hills of Samar. Rest of day uneventful. May 8 or 9- V.E. Day!!

26 May to 9 June 1945. Tied up alongside Medusa. Enjoyed being able to get Cokes, Ice Cream, liberty every third day, and movies every night. One fellow went nuts and run off in the woods. Not such a bad idea. It got him back to the states. Good church services on Medusa.

10 June 1945. Underway 1800 for Calicoan to get supplies.

11 June 1945. Helped get stores on beach. Missed good turkey dinner. Left for Leyte about 1800. Just got outside nets when we discovered 3 men left behind, so we turned around.

12 June 1945. Headed for Leyte with full crew. Then headed out for patrol halfway between Leyte and Yap. Firing practice.

15 June 1945. Dropped hedge hogs [A type of depth charge employed against U-Boats which were thrown ahead of the ASW ship. These devices were designed to explode on contact.]. Probably scared fish. Sub reported sighted in our area, but we didn’t get any good contacts.

17 June 1945. FATHERS’ DAY. Oh me! Here I am way out here. Headed for tropical storm area to investigate storm. This navy is NUTS at times!!

He signed off “This is all I have” – apparently he had written more, but the rest was lost – either while he was still in the military or in the subsequent years.

My grandfather passed away 8 February 2004. I saw him for the last time in October of 2003 when I went back to America for a visit; I told him at the time that I knew it would be the last time I’d see him this side of heaven, and that I would not be able to be there for his funeral (I live in Switzerland). His response was typical: He said, “Well that’s alright, I won’t be there either!” I loved him dearly, and I miss him; but I did give him one final warning: God had strict instructions not to allow him anywhere NEAR my mansion until I get there… no booby trapping allowed!